Young Adults' Group

Greater Things You Shall Do

by Pastor Mark
January 01, 2015

A New Year…a New Horizon

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Blessed and Happy New Year. I like New Years. Not only is it a time of celebration for all, but the New Year always brings new opportunities and new challenges for our lives and for Bethany. Just as we look at each new day as the sun rises, we see a new horizon for us to behold and to strive for. We thank God for the way in which He will lead us to greater heights of work and ministry.

“Greater things you shall do”

As I begin this year, my thoughts are focused on the words of the Lord Jesus given to His disciples, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” (John 14:12) These are amazing words given by the Lord. Through faith in Him, we can do the works that He did. That thought in itself is already so great. As the Lord taught and bore witness to people, we can do the same. This is indeed an absolute privilege, that we can do the same work as Christ.

But Jesus added further that the disciples would be doing a greater work. What is this greater work that the disciples would do after the Lord had returned to His Father? This is a reference to the time when the Holy Spirit will come upon the disciples and be given to all believers. Through the Holy Spirit, each one will be able to reach out. We would be able to do a greater work in terms of quantity. Christ being one could only be at one place at a time. Through the Holy Spirit filling each believer, the work of outreach could be done in a much greater way.

The work of the Holy Spirit

The greater work was well exemplified at the day of Pentecost. Luke recorded that the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles and they were able to preach and reach out to the people. (Acts 2) Peter preached the Word and explained about the promise of the Holy Spirit to all. (Acts 2:38,39) Through the work of the Holy Spirit, they were able to have fellowship and develop a greater sense of oneness. As they faced challenges, it was with prayer and the Word of God that they sought the filling of the Holy Spirit to boldly speak the Word, “And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:31) All of them were of one heart and one mind. Let us be challenged to be filled with the Spirit of God.

Unity of the Spirit

It was the Apostle Paul who would go on to describe this oneness as the unity of the Spirit. At our last YAG retreat, we learned of his challenge to the Ephesian church, “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” This unity is really of the Holy Spirit. He is very much involved in the development of this unity. On the other hand, as a YAG and as a church, we seek to cultivate this unity of the Spirit. The word “endeavoring” means “to make every effort diligently.” We should make every effort to guard this unity of the Spirit.

As we enter into the New Year, there will be greater things for us to attempt for the Lord. The Spirit of God should fill each one of us that we may be enabled to do this greater work. Through the leading of the Spirit of God, let us also keep this vision of striving for greater horizons for the Lord.  Let us have the faith to forge a greater sense of oneness as one body in Christ and having One Spirit lead us in the work of God.

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